Between Meleni and Korosten, 22nd of December 1943.🔥🌨

Featured Image: Pz.V and “T-34” at Taraski.
Copyright © Rolf O. G. Stoves. R. Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 704)

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Haze with rain. Clouds hang with height of 100 to 200 meters. Temperature ranges between minus 1 to 3 degrees. [1]

General Hermann Balck of the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps was busy regrouping his exhausted panzer divisions on the west of Chopovychi station during the night of 21/22nd of December, except the 7. Panzer-Division fought on the southern bank of Irsha River. However, the progress of regrouping was delayed by uninterrupted skirmish fights throughout the night.

At 0005 hours, the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 was allegedly attacked by the enemy while it tried to hand over its old position to the 1. Panzer-Division. The attack was repelled. [2]

At 0210 hours, the regrouping continued, the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 was attacked again. This time the enemy was with tanks. The situation was unclear until 0600 hours. [3]

By 0600 hours, the 13th Guards Tank Brigade, the 111th Tank Brigade and the 226th Rifle Division allegedly cleared out the woods west of Chopovychi station. Their further progress was delayed by organized enemy anti-tank defense from the woods on the south of the village Lyplyany (Липляни). [4]

By 0800 hours, after suffering heavy losses, the 13th Guards Tank Brigade the 111th Tank Brigade allegedly broke into the woods area on the south of Lyplyany. [5] The 162nd Tank Brigade, at the same time, took up its jump-off line in the forest 2 kilometers west of Lyplyany. [6]

At 0820 hours, the 4th Guards Tank Corps claimed that an enemy force with twenty-three Tigers launched counterattack against the 111th Tank Brigade and 13th Guards Tank Brigade near Lyplyany. Destroyed five enemy tanks while suffered significant losses, the brigades were forced to retreat and take up new defensive position in the woods west of the Chopovychi station. [7]

At 0900 hours, the 162nd Tank Brigade launched attack toward Lyplyany and allegedly took possession of the village by 0940 hours. The spearhead of the brigade reached the flour mill of the village, where it met fierce artillery resistance. The brigade commander decided to leave two T-34’s at the flour mill as rearguard, while the main force of the brigade kept pushing forward towards the village of Stremyhorod (Стремигород). [8]

Attacked by the 1.Panzer-Division from Stremyhorod and the SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH from the village of Bolyarka (Болярка), the 8th Rifle Division acknowledged suffering one hundred and eighty-five casualties during the day, but claimed inflicting losses of eleven tanks, four self-propelled guns, two armored vehicles, one artillery piece, five machine guns and at least two hundred and fifty casualties upon the enemy. [9]

At 1105 hours, the offensive of the LSSAH was commenced by the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 on the left, the SS-Panzeraufklärung-Abteilung 1 on the middle and the 212 Reserve-Grenadier-Regiment on the right from the area of south and southeast area of Bolyarka station to Meleni. The offensive, however, gained ground slowly. [10]

The 226th Rifle Division claimed that there were two Tigers with flamethrowers approached the edge of the position of 2nd Battalion of the 989th Rifle Regiment at 1100 hours. Both Tigers were driven away by anti-tank artillery fire. [11] Meanwhile, the LSSAH allegedly had only two Tigers under operational conditions during the day. It was a possibility that both Tigers served as decoy to probe the defense fire of the enemy. [12]

At 1300 hours, the 226th Rifle Division claimed that another group of enemy in larger scale – at least fifteen motor vehicles – went into offensive against height 185.3 northeast of Meleni. The attack was beaten off. [13]

By 1400 hours, the 226th Rifle Division claimed that yet another attack from the southeast area of Lyplyany, formed by up to one-and-a-half battalions of infantry supported by at least fifteen tanks, against height 185.3. The attack was also beaten off by the counterattack taken by 20th Mechanized Brigade and the 985th Rifle Regiment. The 226th Rifle Division acknowledged suffering losses of seven machine guns, fifteen killed and thirty-two wounded, but claimed inflicted losses of four tanks, four self-propelled guns, one armored personnel carrier knocked out and up to sixty casualties upon the enemy during the day. [14]

The 111th Guards Tank Brigade, who was also involved in the battle of the height 185.3 at the same time, allegedly attacked by twelve enemy tanks and knocked down seven of them. The brigade held its ground despite losing cover from the riflemen of the 149th Rifle Division that withdrew from their original positions under attack. [15]

At 1500 hours, ten tanks of the 1.Panzer-Division were deployed to the southeastern area of Lyplyany to support grenadiers struggling to hold their grounds under heavy pressure from enemy tanks. [16]

At 1600 hours, the LSSAH claimed its spearhead lay in front of the 3rd defense-line of the enemy, 1500 meters north of Meleni. However, a new offensive to breach it was no longer to be expected. [17] At the same time, the 1st Ukrainian Front claimed there was a concentrate attack from the enemy with up to seventy tanks and two infantry battalions against height 185.3 and forced 8th Rifle Division to abandon the height area subsequently. [18] Last night, the LSSAH reported that there were thirteen tanks and fourteen assault guns under disposal were serviceable. [19]

At 1800 hours, the 162nd Tank Brigade allegedly took possession of Stremyhorod as far as its train station. However, the riflemen from the 149th Rifle Division lagged were still lagging behind. Without support from the riflemen, the brigade was forced to stop its advance. The enemy took the advantage to launch counterattack with a force of an infantry regiment and fifteen tanks and self-propelled guns. As result of the counterattack, the 162nd Tank Brigade was forced to retreat to the western outskirts of Stremyhorod, where the tanks of brigade met the anti-tank fire of the remaining enemy artillery and tank destroyers that they failed to clear out when they passed through the village. The brigade later acknowledged suffering losses of twenty-four tanks knocked out and burned along with fifteen men killed in action, but claimed eliminating six heavy tanks, eight medium tanks, one Panther, three Ferdinand tank destroyers, fourteen armored vehicles, five armored personnel carriers, twenty-three different type of guns and mortars, eight machine guns, twenty-five wagons and up to five hundred and thirty enemy soldiers during the day. [20]

At 1830 hours, the 149th Rifle Division claimed occupying several collective farms and settlements on the outskirts of Stremyhorod. The division allegedly destroyed up to six anti-tank guns, one all-terrain vehicle, one anti-aircraft gun and seventy enemy soldiers, captured sixteen POWs that day. [21]

On the opposite side of the battlefield, the 1.Panzer-Division did not portray much about the engagement in this afternoon. Instead, it claimed success in defensive battle in front of its new battle line on the south of Lyplyany. The II./Panzer-Regiment 1 and the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 37 allegedly shot down twenty-five enemy tanks in the north of the railway line. The I./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 73 deployed on the south of Lyplyany allegedly destroyed another ten T-34’s. But the attack of the Red Army continued. Some T-34’s tried to penetrate from the north towards the village of Stremyhorod were all allegedly destroyed. All in all, the 1.Panzer-Division claimed eliminating sixty-nine enemy tanks including T-34 and KV-1. Generalleutnant Walter Krüger estimated his division was attacked by almost two enemy tank corps during the day. [22]

At 1830 hours, the 111th Tank Brigade claimed that the enemy, supposed to be the LSSAH, resumed attack against height 185.3 with fifteen tanks and up to two infantry battalions. The 151st Rifle Regiment of the 8th Rifle Division was forced into retreat. The 111th Tank Brigade claimed it held the line nonetheless and destroyed seven enemy tanks. [23] The 8th Rifle Division described that the particular difficult battle was fought by the 151st Rifle Regiment during the day and a training-company under division reserve and a construction-company of the 229th Rifle Regiment were sent for reinforcement. [24]

By the end of 22nd of December, the 4th Guards Tank Corps allegedly eliminated nineteen enemy tanks and up to four hundred enemy soldiers, but suffered losses of eighteen T-34’s and seven SU-85’s in the battle. [25]

On the opposite side of the battlefield, the LSSAH allegedly captured six T-34’s, one Sherman tank, one 7.62 cm self-propelled anti-tank gun, three 2.2 cm artillery pieces, along with thirty POWs and thirty enemy bodies counted on the battlefield. [26] Later, the commander of the LSSAH replenished that its troops destroyed ten T-34’s, two of them were claimed by Tiger commander SS-Oberscharführer Georg Lötzsch that day. [27][28]

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[1] TsAMO, Fund. 236, Inv. 2673, File 115, Sht. 88. Combat Logs of the 1st Ukrainian Front. 

[2] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-342. Morgenmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. 22. Dec. 43, durchgegeben 0600 Uhr.

[3] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-342. Morgenmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. 22. Dec. 43, durchgegeben 0600 Uhr.

[4] TsAMO, Fund. 3402, Inv. 1, File 64, Sht. 17. Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps.

[5] TsAMO, Fund. 3402, Inv. 1, File 64, Sht. 17. Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps.

[6] TsAMO, Fund. 323, Inv. 4756, File. 149, Sht. 50. Combat Reports of the 25th Tank Division.

[7] TsAMO, Fund. 3402, Inv. 1, File 64, Sht. 17. Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps.

[8] TsAMO, Fund. 323, Inv. 4756, File. 149, Sht. 50. Combat Reports of the 25th Tank Division

[9] TsAMO, Fund. 1062, Inv. 1, File 90, Sht. 72-73. Combat Logs of the 8th Rifle Division.

[10] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-347. Tagesmeldung vom 22. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[11] TsAMO, Fund. 1500, Inv. 1, File. 6, Sht. 132. Operational Report of the 226th Rifle Division at 2000 hrs. 22. Dec. 43.

[12] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-347. Tagesmeldung vom 22. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[13] TsAMO, Fund. 1500, Inv. 1, File. 6, Sht. 132. Operational Report of the 226th Rifle Division at 2000 hrs. 22. Dec. 43.

[14] TsAMO, Fund. 1500, Inv. 1, File. 6, Sht. 132. Operational Report of the 226th Rifle Division at 2000 hrs. 22. Dec. 43.

[15] TsAMO, Fund. 3402, Inv. 1, File. 6, Sht. 17. Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps.

[16] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-349. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. 22. Dec. 43, durchgegeben 1915 Uhr.

[17] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-347. Tagesmeldung vom 22. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[18] TsAMO, Fund. 236, Inv. 2673, File 115, Sht. 87. Combat Logs of the 1st Ukrainian Front.

[19] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-337. Ia Tagesmeldung vom 21. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[20] TsAMO, Fund. 323, Inv. 4756, File 149, Sht. 50. Combat Reports of the 25th Tank Division.

[21] TsAMO, Fund. 1378, Inv. 1, File 53, Sht. 317. Combat Logs of the 149th Rifle Division.

[22] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 468). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[23] TsAMO, Fund. 3402, Inv. 1, File 64, Sht. 17. Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps.

[24] TsAMO, Fund. 1062, Inv. 1, File 90, Sht. 72. Combat Logs of the 8th Rifle Division.

[25] TsAMO, Fund. 3402, Inv. 1, File 64, Sht. 19. Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps.

[26] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-348. Tagesmeldung vom 22. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[27] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-349. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. 22. Dec. 43, durchgegeben 1915 Uhr.

[28] Patrick Agte (2006). Michael Wittmann, Volume One (p. 208). Stackpole Books.

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Copyright © 2021 John C.W. Lai, Taipei. All rights reserved.

Between Meleni and Korosten, 21st of December 1943.🔥❄️

Light snowfall at night, deep cloud cover. Temperature at 0 degrees.

The night between 20th and 21st of December was very restless. There was constant enemy artillery and mortar fire poured on the forward positions. Again and again there were clashes between outposts and Soviet patrols who tried to clarify the exact course of the battle lines, according to the report of the 1. Panzer-Division. [1]

At 0400 hours, the Headquarters of the Soviet 4th Guards Tank Corps retreated to the northeastern outskirts of Chopovychi in view of imminent threat from the enemy. Before the retreat, the joint action of the 13th Guards Tank Brigade from the north and the 111th Tank Brigade from the south ended up losses of seven tanks, as result of clashing with the enemy on the eastern outskirts of Chopovychi station. [2]

At 0645 hours, when the Kampfgruppe Bradel of the 1. Panzer-Division advanced from Chopovychi station on the intersection south of Yosypivka (Йосипівка), but hindered by enemy counterattacks in regimental-strong forces. [3] The grenadiers of the III.(gep.)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113, mounted on SPW, pulled the approaching enemy tanks to the front of the batteries of the II./ Panzerartillerie-Regiment 73 deployed at the train station, and eliminated the enemy tanks with direct fire from the howitzers. The Panzer IV’s of the II./Panzer-Regiment 1 also scored several kills allegedly. Later, the batteries brought another two mass Soviet riflemen assaults to a standstill by direct fire, before the SPW and tanks forced the enemy into retreat. [4]

According to Soviets, the 479th Rifle Regiment of the 149th Rifle Division and the 175th Tank Brigade of the 25th Tank Corps were ordered to attack Chopovychi station by 0700 hours. Despite failure to retake station, separated houses at the north of the railway and on the south of the station were already fell to the hands of the Soviet riflemen. [5]

At 1100 hours, in one of the many counterattacks that day, the commander SPW of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113 took several hits from enemy anti-tank guns at Chopovychi station. Lieutenant Colonel Bradel was badly wounded by flak fragments. His adjutant, Lieutenant Teckenburg, fell. Lieutenant Colonel Neumeister took over the command of the Kampfgruppe Bradel. [6] The 4th Guards Tank Corps reported that an enemy force of eleven tanks and five armored vehicles again burst from the station and occupied the intersection north of Chopovychi. The 13th Guards Tank Brigade, took position west of Yosypivka (Йосипівка), allegedly destroyed six of enemy tanks and drove this enemy force back to the west. Then Chopovychi station, allegedly, was completely occupied by the Soviet riflemen following the tanks. [7]

On the south of the 1. Panzer-Division, the Kampfgruppe Peiper, fighting in even more unfavorable terrain than Kampfgruppe Bradel, has not made any progress after initial success due to heavy enemy resistances. It was even forced to withdraw part of its main battle line in southwestern direction later in the afternoon. [8]

At 1213 hours, Obersturmbannführer Albert Frey reported that the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 has stopped by the eastern edge of the station of Chopovychi station. Initially, his regiment, reinforced by six operational tanks, allegedly destroyed twenty-one enemy tanks during the course of morning, but only one tank was still operational at present. [9]

As for the deployment of the Soviets, the elements of the 175th Tank Brigade and 20th Motorized Infantry Brigade, both subordinated to the 25th Tank Corps, were operating in the west of the station. [10] The 14th Guards Tank Brigade who took up defensive position with three T-34’s and one SU-85 on the northwestern area of the town of Chopovychi, three T-34’s and one SU-85 stood nearby the town, and another four T-34’s and one SU-85 on the highway south of Chopovychi station. [11]

Since 1300 hours, the Panzeraufklärung-Abteilung 1 reported that the grenadiers were entangling with enemy tanks in the wood area southeast of village of Lyplyany (Липляни). Three of enemy tanks even breached the front line of the battalion. [12] The Hill 178.8 east of Lyplyany has already been seized by the 162nd Tank Brigade of the 25th Tank Corps, reinforced by the 568th Rifle Regiment of the 149th Rifle Division at dawn. [13] At the same time, the 112th Rifle Division claimed it has occupied the town of Novaky (Новаки), about 10 kilometers west to Lyplyany. [14]

By 1530 hours, the 8th Rifle Division, Headquarters located in Meleni, reported that up to one hundred fifty enemy infantrymen started an attack against its battle line. Later, a major attack reinforced by enemy’s tanks launched took possession of Chopovychi station. As the result of combat, the Division reported losses of seven killed and twenty-five wounded, but allegedly eliminated up to two companies of enemy infantry, four tanks, two armored vehicles, one other vehicle and one artillery piece in return. [15] The 226th Rifle Division, ordered to enforce the former, allegedly eliminated up to one company of enemy infantry, four machine guns and four armored vehicles, while suffered losses of two killed and nine wounded. [16]

At 1730 hours, the troops of the 25th Tank Corps operating near Chopovychi station were allegedly bombed by friendly aircraft. [17]

By 1930 hours, the Kampfgruppe Peiper was pushed back to the crossroads south of Chopovychi station in the course of the afternoon as a result of flanking maneuvers and the attacks of superior enemy forces. Twenty-three T-34’s were allegedly shot down so far. [18]

Among the attackers who seized the station, the 175 Tank Brigade acknowledged suffering the losses of nineteen tanks burned down and twelve tanks destroyed. Twenty-eight killed with another fifty-nine wounded including the commander of the 3rd Battalion, Captain Struchalin who was seriously wounded, have been reported during the day. In return, the brigade claimed inflicting losses of five Ferdinand self-propelled guns, three Tiger tanks, seven Panzer-IV’s, two artillery pieces, six 8.8cm-FlaK, fifteen anti-tank rifles and one six-barreled mortar upon the enemy during the day. [19]

At 2345 hours, Hauptsturmführer Bormann, leading two battalions of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 to relieve the Kampfgruppe Peiper, reported that he has reached the eastern exit from the Chopovychi railway complex. However, his grenadiers barely maintained the contact with the Kampfgruppe Peiper, who was at the intersection 2 kilometers east of Chopovychi station, let alone move to clear the enemy forces from the town 100 meters south of the road in front of the station. The enemy tanks were still attacking the railway from the north despite of the darkness, while three of his Pak have already being out of commission. [20]

One hour after the midnight, the last men of the Kampfgruppe Bradel, under the fire reinforcement of the II./Panzer-Regiment 1, evacuated from Chopovychi station. [21]

The Soviet 149th Rifle Division, whose regiments heavily involved in the fight around station of Chopovychi, reported that the “Russian” prisoner captured in the area of station belonged to the “3rd Company” of the SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH. By interrogation, the prisoner claimed his Company has up to twenty-five soldiers, three light and one heavy machine guns. During the fight in 21st of December, the 149th Rifle Division allegedly claimed twenty-one enemy tanks were shot down and burned, one was captured in serviceable condition and transferred to the 175th Tank Brigade. [22]

During two days (from 20th to 21st of December) of fighting, the SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 suffered thirteen killed, eleven wounded and seven missing-in-action in the area of Chopovychi. The companies of the III. (gep.)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2, granted a Close Combat Day for the combat at the village of Yosypivka took heavy casualties. As an example, the 13. (gep.) Kompanie went into action in Chopovychi with some eight SPW and sixty men, came back out of this precarious area with only seven grenadiers unwounded. Seventeen killed and all the rest were wounded. [23] In return, the LSSAH claimed the booty of three T-34 tanks, five 7.62 cm artillery pieces, twelve machine-guns, twenty-two anti-tank rifles, seventy refiles, fifteen machine-pistols and fourteen trucks, along with three hundred of enemy bodies counted in 21st of December. [24]

In 21st of December, the 25th Tank Corps claimed that eleven enemy tanks and two Ferdinand self-propelled guns destroyed, along with seven guns and up to five hundred of enemy soldiers. The Corps acknowledged suffering losses of fourteen tanks burned down, six knocked out, along with two SU-85’s knocked out. [25]

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[1] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 466). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[2] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Page 16. War Logs of the 4th Guard Tank Corps.

[3] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-334. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4, 21. Dec. 43, durchgeben 1930 Uhr.

[4] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 467). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[5] TsAMO, Fund 1378, Inv 1, Case 53, Page 315. Doc. No. 095. War Logs of the 149 Rifle Division.

[6] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 467). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[7] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Page 16. War Logs of the 4th Guard Tank Corps.

[8] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 467). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[9] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-337. Ia Tagesmeldung vom 21. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[10] TsAMO, Fund 361, Inv 0006096, Case 0011, Page 41. Battle Report of the 25th Tank Corps at 1700 hrs. 21 Dec. 1943.

[11] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Page 16. War Logs of the 4th Guard Tank Corps.

[12] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-334. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4, 21. Dec. 43, durchgeben 1930 Uhr.

[13] TsAMO, Fund 361, Inv 0006096, Case 0011, Page 40. Battle Report of the 25th Tank Corps at 0500 hrs. 21 Dec. 1943.

[14] TsAMO, Fund 969, Inv 1, Case 23, Page 83. War Logs of the 112th Rifle Division on 21 Dec. 1943.

[15] TsAMO, Fund 1062, Inv 1, Case 90, Page 36. War Logs of the 8th Rifle Division.

[16] TsAMO, Fund 1500, Inv 1, Case 6, Page 131. Doc. No. 129. Battle Report of the 226th Rifle Division at 1900 hrs. 21 Dec. 1943.

[17] TsAMO, Fund 361, Inv 0006096, Case 0011, Page 41. Battle Report of the 25th Tank Corps at 1700 hrs. 21 Dec. 1943.

[18] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-334. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4, 21. Dec. 43, durchgeben 1930 Uhr.

[19] TsAMO, Fund 3238, Inv. 0000001, File 0018, Page 7. Doc. No. 2/31. Combat Report of the 175th Tank Brigade.

[20] Lehmann. R. (1990). The Leibstandarte III (p. 367). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[21] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 467). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[22] TsAMO, Fund 1378, Inv 1, Case 53, Page 315. Doc. No. 095. War Logs of the 149th Rifle Division.

[23] Agte. P. (1999). Jochen Peiper (p. 265). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[24] NARA T-314, R-1173, F-347. Ia Tagesmeldung vom 22. Dec. 43. Abschrift von Fernschreiben. 1800 Uhr.

[25] TsAMO, Fund 361, Inv 0006096, Case 0011, Page 41. Battle Report of the 25th Tank Corps at 1700 hrs. 21 Dec. 1943.

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Copyright © 2020 John C.W. Lai, Taipei. All rights reserved.

Between Meleni and Korosten, 20th of December 1943.🔥⛄️

Featured Image: A Panzer-IV under command of Untersturmführer Sternebeck (6. Kompanie) just south of the railway line from Kiev to Korosten.
Copyright © Rudolf Lehmann Leibstandarte III

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At 2400 hours 19th of December 1943, the 162nd Tank Brigade of the 25th Tank Corps, reinforced by the 1497th Antitank Gun Regiment, deployed its units as follows: [1]

• The 1st Tank Battalion, reinforced by two batteries of the 1497th – Bolyarka (Болярка);
• The 2nd Tank Battalion, reinforced by two batteries of the 1497th – south of Lyplyany (Липляни);
• The 3rd Tank Battalion – Huta-Lohanivs’ka (Гута-Логанівська) area as brigade reserve.

At 0200 hours, the Kampfgruppe Bradel was replaced by Panzer-Aufklarungsabteilung 1 in Khotynivka (Хотинівка) and set off eastward towards Stremyhorod (Стремигород). After reaching the center of the village, the Soviets attacked the Kampfgruppe from the north. The first wave was beaten back by the artillery fire of the IV./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 73 and six Soviet tanks were left behind. [2]

At 0230 hours, the Kampfgruppe Bradel reported that it is moving in ESE direction towards Chopovychi station. In the meantime, the Kampfgruppe Neumeister was attacking Lyplyany (Липляни). [3]

The XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps reported that the coordinated attack of the 1. SS-Panzer-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and 1. Panzer-Division then encountered repeated counterattacks from Soviet 112th, 8th, 280th and 226th rifle divisions, the 6th Guards rifle division and the 4th Guards Tank Corps. [4]

At 0300 hours, the LSSAH launched its first wave of attack against Chopovychi station. The attack failed. The division retreated to the forest southwest. [5] On its way oapproaching to the station, the leading detachment lost two Panzer-IV’s to undetected Soviet antitank fire. Two tank commanders – Obersturmfuhrer Roland Michalski (8. Kompanie) and Rottenfurer Hans Kazmaier (5. Kompanie) – were killed in action, while the leading Panzer-IV under command of Unterscharfuhrer Hans Oeser (5. Kompanie) remained somehow intact. Oeser managed to take back the survived drivers and radiomen in aforesaid two tanks. He then radioed Hauptsturmfuhrer Kling on what had happened, and Kling ordered him to retreat. [6] Moment later the Soviets launched several counterattacks in battalion strength, but all beaten back. [7]

At 0400 hours, the Soviet 149th Rifle Division reported its deployment as follows: [8]

• The 568th Rifle Regiment – Lyplyany and Chopovychi Station.
• The 744th Rifle Regimnet – from the brick plant south of Yosypivka (Йосипівка) along the toll road to 500 meters southeast of the town of Chopovychi.
• The 479th Rifle Regiment, as the divisional reserve, was only able to take its defense locations on the eastern and southern outskirts of Yosypivka by 0530 hours.
• 314th Artillery Regiment – twelve guns – the area on the southern outskirts of Lyplyany, and the crossroads of highways south of the Chopovychi station. [9]
• Three Batteries – nine guns – of the 271st Independent Antitank Division, as the reinforcement, were deployed to the western and southern outskirts of Yosypivka.

At 0530 hours, seven Soviet tanks broke into the edge of village of Stremyhorod from the northeast, but the II./Panzer-Regiment 1 under the Kampfgruppe Bradel inflicted two total losses upon them and forced them to retreat. After strengthening the situation around Stremyhorod, the Kampfgruppe Bradel set off again in ESE direction, along the railway line Korosten – Malin. Meanwhile, the IV./Panzer- Artillerie-Regiment 73 changed its location to Bolyarka. [10]

By 0800 hours, after night march the 13th and 14th Guards Tank Brigades of the 4th Guards Tank Corps took up their new defense positions near Chopovychi. The 12th Guards Tank Brigade, on the other hand, together with part of forces of the 111th Tank Brigade of 25th Tank Corps, took up positions in Ustynivka (Устинівка) and the forest edge on northeast of the village. [11]

Since 1000 hours, a German force (supposed to be the LSSAH) attacked from Desyatyny (Десятини) to Hraby (Граби), the 385th Rifle Regiment of the 112th Rifle Division was forced to retreat. Due to the advance of enemy, the Divisional Exchange Station (ДОП) and Medical Battalion of the 112th Rifle Division were evacuated from Lyplyany to Velykyi Lis (Великий Лес). [12]

At 1100 hours, the 12th Guards Tank Brigade reported that a German force (supposed to be the 7. Panzer-Division) went on offensive towards Ustynivka, the attack was repelled. During 20th of December, the Brigade reported losses of six T-34’s and three SU-85’s, but repelled five waves of attack in total and allegedly knocked out fourteen enemy tanks, including four Tigers, in return. [13][14]

Later, the 7. Panzer-Division reported nine enemy tanks and fifteen enemy s.Pak were destroyed during the action, while one Panzer-III’s, seven Panzer-IV’s and one Tiger were still fit for combat. [15]

Four among the fourteen knocked out enemy tanks were claimed by the platoon led by Lieutenant Komarov (Комаров) at the village of Slobidka (Слобідка) at around 1000 hours. In an effort to prevent enemy from penetrating the village, his platoon fired from its ambush position 600-800 meters away from the enemy and allegedly eliminated two  enemy tanks, forcing enemy into retreat. Another two Tigers were allegedly knocked out in point-range range during the second attempt of enemy to capture the village, according to Komarov’s report. [16]

At 1300 hours, the Soviet 25th Tank Corps reported that it lost four tanks, three among them were burned out. In return, fourteen enemy tanks were allegedly destroyed, six among them were burned out. [17]

At 1330 hours, a coordinated attack was commenced according to the discussion between Sturmbannführer Peiper and Oberstleutnant Bradel of the 1. Panzer-Division at Bradel’s command post. The Kampfgruppe Bradel would attack north of the railway embankment while the Kampfgruppe Peiper attacks along the other side. [18]

At 1345 hours, the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 attacked Hill 185.3 from the intersection 2 kilometers south of Lyplyany. The woodland was heavy-occupied by the enemy reinforced by tanks – six T-34’s were detected then two of them were shot down – and heavily mined. Due to the dense underwood, the attack only gaining ground slowly. [19]

At 1430 hours, the Kampfgruppe Peiper launched another attack coordinating with the Kampfgruppe Bradel. [20] They penetrated the junction between two Rifle Regiments of the 149th Rifle Division, with eighteen tanks from the northeast and ten tanks from the woods southwest of Chopovychi station simultaneously. The formation of the 149th Rifle Division was crushed and the attackers infiltrated into the woods east of Chopovychi station. [21]

In the meantime, 1430 hours, the commander of the 25th Tank Corps received orders from the 1st Ukrainian Front to mobilize the 111th Tank Brigade for a counterattack at 1630 hours in order to retake the village of Bolyarka (Болярка) from the 1. Panzer-Division. [22] That order was apparently changed later due to critical situation at Chopovychi station.

At 1445 hours, the tanks of the Kampfgruppe Peiper were fighting for the train station at Chopovychi. [23]

At 1600 hours, the elements of the III. (gep.)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 was forced to withdraw to its jump-off positions due to heavy Soviet antitank gun fire. One SPW was lost to a direct hit. [24]

At about 1630 hours, the assault troops of the I.(gep.)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113 broke into the Chopovychi station area. The station Chepovichi fell after a brief but fierce fight. However, enemy resistance demanded considerable losses that day. So far, the Panzer-Aufklärungsabteilung 1 was in Khotynivka (Хотинівка), screening the northern flank (left wing) of the Kampfgruppe Bradel. The I.(sf.)/Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 73 was in the south of Lyplyany. The I. (gep.)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113 and the II./Panzer-Regiment 1 was securing the houses and station of Chopovychi. The 2.(gep.)/Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 37 stood on the south and southeast edge of the town. The passageway to Stremyhorod was held by the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 113. [25]

By 1600 hours, the 12th Guards Tank Brigade, under attack on the north bank of Zdryvlya River by fifteen enemy tanks, was forced to retreat to its new locations on the south of Slobidka (Слобідка). One tank was reportedly lost, but the Brigade claimed four enemy tanks, including two Tigers, were destroyed in return. [26]

At 1730 hours, the Kampfgruppen Peiper and Bradel stood at 2 kilometers west of street of Chopovychi and Yosypivka (Йосипівка). The fight continued. [27]

At 1800 hours, the Leibstandarte issued a booty report that fourteen T-34’s and, twenty-nine Pak 7.62cm, seven le.J.G., one Pak 3.7cm, five machine pistols and fifteen rifles. [28] Later, another three T-34’s, four assault guns, two 76.2cm self-propelled guns, one Pak 7.62cm and four Pak 4.7cm were added on the list. [29]

According to the divisional reports in 19th and 20th of December, two Panzer-IV’s were written of from the order of battle of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 as result of the battle. [30][31]

At 2330 hours, the I. and II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 reached the eastern portion of the Chopovychi station and made contact with the Kampfgruppe Peiper on the railroad crossing 2 kilometers east of the station. During the night between 20/21st of December, the Kampfgruppe Peiper waited for resupply on the embankment east of Chopovychi. [32]

At 1900 hours, the 4th Guards Tank Corps reported that approximately forty-five German tanks burst into the Chopovychi station, the fighting continued until 2030 hours. The 13th Guards Tank Brigade was cut into two parts, its telephone communication with 14th Guards Tank Brigade was interrupted so the communication was carried only by radio. With help from the 111th Tank Brigade, the 13th Guards Tank Brigade eventually prevented enemy from further breakthrough at 2400 hours, it lost three T-34’s and two SU-85’s, but claimed ten enemy tanks destroyed during the fight around Chopovychi station. [33]

Today, the 8th Rifle Division also seen combat. According to divisional reports, its troops fought off four waves of attack altogether in the areas of Meleni and Chopovychi, and claimed eliminated seventy enemy soldiers and two armored vehicles, which allegedly belonged to the Leibstandarte, during the combat while suffered twelve casualties – two killed and ten wounded. [34]

On the other hand, some Soviet units identified by German reconnaissance had not seen combat during the daytime of 20th of December. Among them the 6th Guards Rifle Division was digging in around the outskirts of Iskorost’ (Искорость). On his west was the 112th Rifle Division in Ushomyr (Ушомир), and to his north was the 397th Rifle Division in Kupyshche (Купище). [35] The units of the 280th Rifle Division, whose Headquarters stationed in Lidivka (Лидовка) 17 kilometers east of Chopovychi, had not seen worth mentioning action either. [36]

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20th of December 1943.

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[1] TsAMO, Fund 361, Inv 0006096, Case 0011, Page 26. Doc. No. 89. Battle Report of the 25th Tank Corps at 1300 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[2] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 465). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[3] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 313. Morgenmeldungen der Dvisionen at 0355 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[4] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 318. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. at 1930 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[5] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 318. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. at 1930 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[6] Agte, P. (1990). Jochen Peiper (pp. 263-264). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[7] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 318. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. at 1930 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[8] TsAMO, Fund 1378, Inv 1, Case 53, Page 1. Combat Logs of the 149th Rifle Division in 20 Dec. 1943.

[9] TsAMO, Fund 1378, Inv 1, Case 39, Page 105. Doc. No. 409. Battle Report of the 149th Rifle Division at 1200 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[10] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 465). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[11] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Page 14. The Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps in 20 Dec. 1943.

[12] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0083, Sheet 136-137. Operational Report of the 112nd Rifle Division at 2400 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[13] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Page 14. The Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps in 20 Dec. 1943.

[14] TsAMO, Fund 3085, Inv 1, Case 11, Page 8. The Combat Logs of the 12th Guards Tank Brigade in 20 Dec. 1943.

[15] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 318. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. at 1930 hrs. 20. Dec. 1943.

[16] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 0000001, Case 0066, Pages 29-30. The Battle Episodes of the 12th Guards Tank Brigade in the Patriotic War.

[17] TsAMO, Fund 361, Inv 0006096, Case 0011, Page 26. Doc. No. 89. Battle Report of the 25th Tank Corps at 1300 hrs., 20 Dec. 1943.

[18] Agte, P. (1990). Jochen Peiper (p. 263). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[19] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 321. Ia Tagesmeldung at 1800 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[20] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 321. Ia Tagesmeldung at 1800 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[21] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Pages 16. The Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps in 20 Dec. 1943.

[22] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Pages 14, 16. The Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps in 20 Dec. 1943.

[23] Agte, P. (1990). Jochen Peiper (p. 263). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[24] Agte, P. (1990). Jochen Peiper (p. 263). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[25] Stoves. R. (1961). Die 1. Panzer-Division (p. 466). Hans-Henning Podzun Verlag.

[26] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Page 16. The Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps in 20 Dec. 1943

[27] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 318. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4. at 1930 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[28] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frames 321-322. Ia Tagesmeldung at 1800 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[29] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 338. Ia Tagesmeldung at 1800 hrs. 21 Dec. 1943.

[30] NARA, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 321. Ia Tagesmeldung at 1800 hrs. 20 Dec. 1943.

[31] NRAR, T-314, Roll 1173, Frame 302. Ia Tagesmeldung at 1820 hrs. 19 Dec. 1943.

[32] Agte, P. (1990). Jochen Peiper (p. 264). J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing.

[33] TsAMO, Fund 3402, Inv 1, Case 64, Pages 16. The Combat Logs of the 4th Guards Tank Corps in 20 Dec. 1943.

[34] TsAMO, Fund 1062, Inv 1, Case 90, Pages 70-71. The Combat Logs of the 8th Rifle Division in 20 Dec. 1943.

[35] TsAMO, Fund 1056, Inv 1, Case 10, Page 341. Doc. No. 301. Battle Report of the 6th Rifle Division in 20 Dec. 1943.

[36] TsAMO, Fund 1578, Inv 1, Case 52, Page 243. Doc. No. 495. Operational Report of the 280th Rifle Division in 20 Dec. 1943.

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Copyright © 2019 John C.W. Lai, Taipei. All rights reserved.

The Reloaded of the “Operation Peiper”. February 1943. ❄️☃️🇺🇦

As an addendum to The “Operation Peiper”.

Set Off:

At 0430 hours on 12th of February 1943, the Kampfgruppe Peiper set out from Podolkov towards the rescue of the Wehrmacht 320. Infanterie-Division. Alexei Isaev hints its opponents could be the 12th Tank Corps, 62nd Rifle Division, 7th Guards Cavalry Division, or the 350th Rifle Division:

 

1. On 12 February, the 15th Tank Corps captured Rogan. While it engaged in the fighting for Rogan, the 12th Tank Corps and the 62nd Rifle Division skirted round the city of Kharkov to the south, such as Merefa. [1]

 

2. The Kampfgruppe Peiper was to take Zmiyev (Zmiiv), ford the River Mzha and Udy and establish contact with the 7th Guards Cavalry Corps, and 350th Rifle Division that skirted round the city of Kharkov. [2]

 

The 12th Guards Cavalry Corps proven the biggest threat to the survival not only of the 320. Infanterie-Division but also the Kampfgruppe itself. During the day of 12th of February, its 13th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 1172nd Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment and 106th Tank Brigade attacked Osnova Station through Lelyuky, while the 30th and 97th Tank Brigade took the other route of Novopokrovka, Vvedenka, Lyzohubivka, Vasyshcheve and Bezliudivka, marching towards Osnova as well. [3]

 

Meantime, however, the 62nd Rifle Division was approaching Khroly via Rogan [4], the 7th Guards Cavalry Corps was actually operating in Voroshylovs’kyi district of Donetsk Oblast [5], and the 350th Rifle Division, though his leading element had allegedly reached the village of Omel’chenky, was still one step behind the 320. Infanterie-Division. [6] None of them seems be able to engage the Kampfgruppe Peiper on the south bank of the River Udy.

 

So, who else got to be?

 

The First Round:

By 05:15 the vanguard detachment of the Kampfgruppe Peiper, led by two assault guns, had reached the River Udy near the village of Krasnaya Polyana (Красна Поляна). [7] Taken by surprise, the enemy, supposed to be the alarm unit of the 111th Rifle Division, had been defending the bridge scattered and the bridge was fell into Germans’ hands intact.

 

Some of the tail end of the lorry column, which had arrived late for the start of the operation, came under fire from Soviet troops in Krasnaya Polyana who had recovered quickly from the surprise of the Germans’ attack and had gone back into action again. [8] Aforesaid troops belonged to the 399th Rifle Regiment of the 111th Rifle Division, supported by 3 tanks, attacked at 1100 hours from Temnivka to Vodyane. [9] As the result of the attack, 6 German lorries were destroyed, along with an infantry platoon left behind to guard the bridge, but their drivers were picked up. Peiper, however, was not able to turn around: the Ia of the Leibstandarte told him that a pilot had reported the leading elements of the 320. Infanterie-Division to be near Lyman. [10]

 

The Intermission:

At 0640 hours, the Kampfgruppe Peiper captured Zmiyev without encountering any noteworthy enemy resistance, but can not cross the River Severskiy Donets with heavy equipment. The scouts were dispatched and contact was establish with 320. Infanterie-Division at 1230 hours.

 

According to the report of the 350th Rifle Division, the column of the 320. Infanterie-Division consisting of about one and a half regiments of infantry, along with 5 heavy tanks (which were supposed to be assault-guns) and up to 200 vehicles and 200 wagons, reached the eastern edge of the forest from the west of Lake Lyman by 0700 hours. [11] But its neighbor, 111th Rifle Division, did not turn southwardly to sneak up on the back of the Kampfgruppe Peiper, instead it repeatedly attacked in direction against Borove and Bezliudivka during the afternoon of 12th of February 1943. Thanks to stubborn fight of the bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment.2, the Germans’ last ground on the north bank of the River Udy was still held for the time being.

 

The Second Round:

According to the report of the 12th Tank Corps, there was a cluster of enemy infantry and 15 tanks cruised in towards the village of Krasna Polyana at 1310 hours. [12]

 

At 1150 hours on 13th of February 1943, the columns of the 320. Infanterie-Division, escorted by the Sd.Kfz. 251’s of the Kampfgruppe Peiper from two sides, were confronted by the Soviet troops stationed on the south bank of the River Udy. Erhard Gührs recalled there was a hard fight with a Russian ski battalion at Vodjanoje, the village was cleaned out of enemy only by the evening. His Sd.Kfz. 251/9 as known as Stummel fired 42 shells and the Kampfgruppe suffered 6 dead. [13]

 

According to the standard provision, a Sd.Kfz. 251/9 has only fifty-two rounds for its 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24, if without extra carrying..

 

What they had faced was actually a battalion of the 399th Rifle Regiment, who was likely to receive reinforcement from the bulk of the 468th Rifle Regiment, minus one company, took position in the village of Krasna Polyana, just 3km east of Vodjanoje. [14]

 

Epilogue:

At 1600 hours, all the lorries with their wounded were brought behind German lines. Since the bridge was not strong enough to hold the Sonderkraftfahrzeugen, the Kampfgruppe was forced to take a detour through Butowka (Butivka), Sidki, Artjuesschewka (Artyukhivka) and Migorod (Myrhorody) in enemy territory, then reunited with the main force of the Leibstandarte. [15]

 

A mystery still remains as the 350th Rifle Division was utterly absent from the conflicts during the day of 13th of February. The result would have been different if the 350th had joined the fight timely from the south, especially when the Kampfgruppe was encumbered with 1500-odd wounded and the other exhausted foot soldiers of the 320. Infanterie-Division.

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Citation noted:

[1] Isaev (2018), The End of the Gallop, pp. 49-50.

[2] Isaev, p. 55.

[3] TsAMO, Fund 3405, Inv 0000001, Case 0029, Page 68. Battle Report No. 023. 12th Tank Corps, 0730, 13.2.43.

[4] TsAMO, Fund 1155, Inv 1, Case 3, Page 42. The Combat Log of the 48th Guards Rifle Division.

[5] TsAMO, Fund 3475, Inv 0000001, Case 0023, Page 21. Historical and Fighting Way of the 7th Guards Cavalry Corps.

[6] TsAMO, Fund 232, Inv 590, Case 297, Pages 146 and 161. The Combat Log of the South-Western Front for February 1943.

[7] Isaev, p. 55.

[8] Ibid.

[9] TsAMO, Fund 316, Inv 4487, Case 107, Page 28. Battle Report No. 010. 111th Rifle Division. 12.02.43.

[10] Isaev, p. 55.

[11] TsAMO, Fund 316, Inv 4487, Case 107, Page 28. Battle Report No. 010. 111th Rifle Division. 12.02.43.

[12] TsAMO, Fund 3405, Inv 0000001, Case 0029, Page 69. The Battle Report No. 024. 12th Tank Corps. Issued at 1610 on 13.02.43.

[13] Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper, p. 102.

[14] TsAMO, Fund 316, Inv 4487, Case 107, Page 28. Battle Report No. 010. 111th Rifle Division. 12.02.43.

[15] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), Die Leibstandarte III, p. 64.

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Captions:

(1) The north wing of the 12th Tank Corps. On 12th of February 1943.

(2) The south wing of the 12th Tank Corps. On 12th of February 1943.

(3) The assumed retreat route taken by the 320. Infanterie-Division. On 12th of February. The 350th Rifle Division, seemed ahead of it, was in possession of the village of Omel’chenky, yet it slipped from enemy’s grasp at last.

(4) The south bank of the River Udy. Where the Kampfgruppe Peiper engaged with the troops of the 111th Rifle Division.

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More on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2444292139149782/

The breakthrough. 11th of December 1943, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. 🇺🇦

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Gratitude for the interpretation efforts, by courtesy of Dmitry Benzar (Дмитрий Бензар).

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The frozen soil covered with snow. Right above it the overcast clouds hung with a height of six hundred to eight hundred meters while the wind steady blew in southeastern direction. The visibility was perfect: ten kilometers. Another good news for the Soviet artillery observers was the Luftwaffe would not show up in the course of coming day. [1]

 

In the late morning hours, the barrage began. But it was from the opposite side. Apparently after previous fruitless attempts to remove the Soviet bridgehead on the west bank of Teterev River, Standartenführer Wisch wanted his division to carry out next assault with more proper fire support than running “naked” through the open grounds under the cross-fires of the Soviet Paks fortified in the frontline and the heavy artillery installed along the raised east bank of the Teterev, he brought the artillery forces from his neighbor to the north, the 1. Panzer-Division, along with his own artillery units to conduct coordinated barrage against known targets around the village of Krassnoborka (Краснобірка).

 

When the barrage stopped at 1200 hours sharp, along with the Kampfgruppe Peiper (bulk of the SS-Panzerregiment 1), the Kampfgruppe Kraas (bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2) jumped out from their LOD hiding in the gutter northwest of Mezhyrichka (Межирічка), pushing southwest in direction on Krassnoborka, penetrated the village by 1250 hours and then turn to southeastern direction, took the Hill 170.2 at 1300 hours after destroyed eighteen Paks there. At 1515 hours, the Kampfgruppen broke into the north edge of the village of Velyka Racha (Велика Рача), whose western edge was considerably fortified by Soviet Paks, which was supposed to stop the advance of Kampfgruppe Frey (bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1). [2] During the drive over Hill 170.2 towards Velyka Racha, Untersturmführer Kalinowsky’s Tiger was hit and he was wounded in the face and nose by splinters. [3]

 

The 1st Guards Army reported the battle formations of the 271st Rifle Division was crushed as enemy penetrated into its defense line [4] and its 864th and 867th Rifle Regiment were retreating into the areas of Hill 179.6 and 170.2. [5]

 

The 107sth Rifle Corps later claimed it was attacked by at least fifty enemy tanks and two infantry battalions at 1430 hours. [6] In the contrast, at 1745 hours of 10th of December the Leibstandarte reported that fourteen tanks were serviceable under disposal of the Kampfgruppe Peiper who had as many as one hundred and fifty-six tanks under repair as a result of uninterrupted actions during previous days. [7]

 

By 18:00 hours, despite the success of the 328th Rifle Division who yet again repelled all the attacks against the southwestern areas of Radomyshl, securing village of Hlukhiv Pershyi (Глухов 1-й) and Hill 187.1 (north-west of Radomyshl), its right flank was already threatened as the 271st Rifle Division had withdrew to the line of Chudyn (Чудин), where the command posts of the 271st and 30th Rifle Divisions were located. [8][9]

 

Against Balck’s wishes, Wisch did not force his exhausted troops to execute another attack against Chudyn which reportedly was heavy occupied by the enemy. The Leibstandarte later submitted a booty report [10] of forty-two s.Paks, although the exact losses of its opponents on 11th of December was unclear so far. Since the next day, the Leibstandarte started to evacuate its damaged tanks to the repair shops in the rear. Inferring from the daily report [11] submitted by the Ia (Chief of Staff) on 12th of December, the total losses the enemy inflicted upon the Kampfgruppe Peiper on 11th of December should be three Panzer IV’s.

 

To this day, the counterattack of Balck’s XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps ceased in general and soon his troops would be transferred to the area of Meleni where the new challenges will be expecting them.

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The hot zone on 11th of December 1943.

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Citations:

[1] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Pg 7. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, issued at 2300 on 11.12.43.

[2] NARA T314 R1173 F188. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 11.12.43.

[3] Patrick Agte (2006), Michael Wittmann Volume One, p. 206.

[4] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Pg 7. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, issued at 2300 on 11.12.43.

[5] TsAMO, Fund 999, Inv 1, Case 1, Pg 13. Journal of military action of the 107th Rifle Corps for December 1943.

[6] TsAMO, Fund 999, Inv 1, Case 1, Pg 14. Journal of military action of the 107th Rifle Corps for December 1943.

[7] NARA T314 R1173 F174. Ia-Tagesmeldung, announced at 1745 on 10.12.43.

[8] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Pg 7. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, issued at 2300 on 11.12.43.

[9] TsAMO, Fund 999, Inv 1, Case 1, Pg 14. Journal of military action of the 107th Rifle Corps for December 1943.

[10] NARA T314 R1173 F192. Morgenmeldung der Divisionen, recorded at 0405 on 12.12.43

[11] NARA T314 R1173 F209. Ia-Tagesmeldung, announced at 1800 on 12.12.43.

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The Death Dash. 8th of December 1943, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine. 🇺🇦

“The village of Ljachowaja was still burning. Large flecks showed up in the night, visible form a long way off. They shot up into a bright red when collapsing roof timbers sent a rain of sparks into the dark, dying out only slowly, and then finally vanishing as morning arrived.” Paul Kurbjuhn, the war correspondent accompanying the Kampfgruppe Peiper, wrote. [1]

The way to the east is still dark and gloomy. Even though their former opponents, such as the 148th, 322nd and 121st Rifle Divisions, were either routed or surrounded, the newly introduced troops – mostly the 107th Rifle Corps of 1st Guards Army – had already entrenched in the area along the west bank of Teterev River, waiting to grant them another reception.

At about 2100 hours on 7th of December 1943, the attack on the village of Chodory (Khodory Ходори) began. It did not go well at the outset. According to Rotenführer Walter Kühn’s account, the armored column set a suspicious village [very likely to be Horodchyn] on the half left side alight on its way towards Chodory. There was no return fire. But when the column silhouetted against the glow from the village to the left behind it, the bursts of antitank fire suddenly hit the column from another village [allegedly to be Chodory] emerged from the half right side in front of the column. A leading Panther of the 1./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 took a direct hit, killed three of its crewmen, before Kühn’s SPW of the 14. (Pionier)/SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 suffered the same fate, leaving all its four crewmen badly wounded.

The column was only able to withdraw from out of the light of the destroyed tanks, burning like torches, before enemy’s antitank fire inflicts more damage on it, thanks to the rearguard action of Obersturmführer Hans Stübing, commander of the 2./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 and the decisively fire support of the 4./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 from the right flank. After a Panther initially followed him was hit, Stübing commanded his Panther to lure the enemy’s antitank fire, covering the withdrawal of other vehicles. He and Obersturmführer Ernst Otto, commander of the 4./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 were both recommended for award of the German Cross in Gold by battalion commander, Strumbannführer Kuhlmann.

At 0345 hours on 8th of December 1943, the village of Chodory was eventually taken [2] and Hans Stübing’s company allegedly destroyed fifteen heavy antitank guns, five trucks, twenty antitank rifles, fourteen heavy machine guns, and some one hundred and fifty enemy soldiers. [3]

At 0815 hours, the Kampfgruppe Peiper resumed attack from Chodory towards south against Sabolot (Zabolot’) and took the town from the troops of the 271st Rifle Division at 1015 hours. [4][5]

The attack was allegedly led by Peiper himself. The Panthers provided covering fire, while the Panzer-IV’s attacked from the right in a broad wedge formation. The antitank fire was so violent that Peiper, who attacked with only a few tanks, had to race into the village at top speed to avoid its fire. On the other hands, Hans Stübing, once again took the initiative, tore forward with his company and broke into Sabolot, before his Panther was hit three times by antitank fire and burst into flames. The Russians fled. Their antitank guns stand abandoned or lay with burst barrels amidst their dead crews, who had fired up to the last second. The commander of the 7./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, Obersturmführer Herbert Sprunk, was killed in action, along with the commander of the 5./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1, Obersturmführer Gerhard Scharke, who stood upright, exposing his upper body out of the turret all the way down to his belt during the attack. Hans Stübing was severely burned, but still managed to save his badly wounded gunner when he bailed out of his burning Panther. [6] One of confirmed knockouts was Unterscharführer Erich Langanger’s Tiger, which was hit at Sabolot and immobilized, when Russians mounted the tank, the Unterscharführer shot himself. He was buried by the church of Sabolot. [7]

The heavy lifting of the house-to-house combats had been carried by the Panzergrenadiers of the III. (gep.)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 during these days. For Chodory on 7th of December and Sabolot on 8th of December, Rottenführer Werner Kindler of the 14. (s.gep.)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 received the grant of his 44th and 45th confirmed Close-combat Days respectively. [8]

At 1400 hours, after regrouping from the exhausted night march, the Kampfgruppe Kraas, consisting of the bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 attacked the village of Kotowka (Kotivka). The village fell by 1445 hours and the leading elements of the II./2 continued its movement towards Sabolot in order to clear the way for Peiper’s supplies to come through. [9]

Meanwhile, the Kampfgruppe Frey, consisting the bulk of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 also launched attack towards southeast after taking Ljachowaja [10] and forced the 328th Rifle Division to retreat by 1600 hours. [11][12]

The 1 Guards Army estimated it was attacked by up to two hundred tanks during this day. [13] The 1105th Rifle Regiment [of the 328th Rifle Division] allegedly suffered the greatest losses during the combat, but the 107th Rifle Corps claimed that it destroyed twenty-one enemy tanks and eliminated four hundred enemy soldiers and officers during the combat. [14]

On the other hands, the Leibstandarte claimed that from Chodory to Sabolot it captured or destroyed one T-34, eight field guns, one 4.5cm antitank gun, sixty-one 7.62cm antitank guns, twenty-one light antitank guns, fifty-five MGs and five lorries. Nine hundred and thirty Soviet soldiers were killed, only three were taken prisoners. [15][16] Aforesaid figures should consist of the scores of Hans Stübing’s company in Chodory.

Another booty report announced on the next morning: Fifty-four s.Pak, one m.Pak, two pieces of artillery, four antitank rifles, seven mortars, nine trucks about five hundred and eighty enemy dead…, etc. [17]

As for the relative few figure of the prisoners of war, we can only speculate the reasons through the memories of Paul Kurbjuhn: “There still might be a number of Red Army stragglers crouched in the snow behind a wall, each one desperately wondering if he should fire the last round out of his machine pistol into someone’s back or surrender. Every shadow was still an enemy to us, and no one wanted to try guess what as in an armed enemy’s mind…”

The speculated routes taken by the Kampfgruppe Peiper to approach village of Chodory (Khodory) during the night of 7/8th of December 1943. Due to difficult terrain and enemy resistance, Kampfgruppe Kraas did not take the village of Kotowka (Kotivka) until the noon of 8th of December, causing a certain extent of difficulty on resupply the Kampfgruppe Peiper. The Kampfgruppe Frey was actually operating in the further south area out of this map.

The speculated location where the encounter took place at the night of 7/8th of December 1943. The armored column approached while the 1. (Werner Pötschke) and 2. (Hans Stübing) Kompanien took point while the 4. (Ernst Otto) Kompanie covering their right flank. The armored column was hit (explode icon) when it was leaving the burning village of Horodchyn, exposed its silhouette to the enemy entrenched in Chodory. The commander of the I. Abteilung (Herbert Kuhlmann) witnessed the whole event.

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Citations:

[1] Paul Kurbjuhn, Die eisernen Särge (The Iron Coffins) in Das Schwarze Korps, excerpt from Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper.

[2] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame-134. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 8.12.43

[3] Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper, pp. 258-259.

[4] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame-134. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 8.12.43

[5] TsAMO, Fund 456, Inv 6850, Case 226, Sht 36. Military Report of the 107th Rifle Corps, Doc. No 064 issued at 1600, 8.12.43.

[6] Patrick Agte (1999), Jochen Peiper, pp. 258-259.

[7] Wolfgang Schneider (2005), Tigers in Combat 2, Kindle, 1417-1420.

[8] Werner Kindler (2014), Obedient Unto Death, p. 116.

[9] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame-134. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4., announced at 1900 on 8.12.43.

[10] Allegedly located on the southwest of Kotowka and three kilometers west of Sabolot, but the name “Ljachowaja” is unable to be identified nowadays.

[11] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, p. 353.

[12] TsAMO, Fund 456, Inv 6850, Case 226, Sht 36. Military Report of the 107th Rifle. Corps, Doc. No 064 issued at 1600, 8.12.43.

[13] TsAMO, Fund 236, Inv 0002673, Case 0084, Sht 4. Operational Summary of the 1st Guards Army, Doc. No 0552, issued at 2330, 8.12.43.

[14] TsAMO, Fund 456, Inv 6850, Case 226, Sht 36. Military Report of the 107th Rifle Corps, Doc. No 064 issued at 1600, 8.12.43.

[15] Werner Kindler (2014), Obedient Unto Death, p. 115.

[16] Patrick Agte (2006), Michael Wittmann volume one, p. 183.

[17] NARA T-314 R-1173, Frame 143. Morgenmeldungen der Divisionen, recorded at 0400 on 9.12.43.

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Perimeter Combats on 6-7th of December 1943. Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine.

A special thanks to comrade Igor Ershov for his great efforts on interpretation.

The day of 6th of December 1943 in Cherniakhiv Raion was gloomy, covered by light frost. On its north, a few kilometers away, the mechanized columns of the Kampfgruppe Peiper was carrying forward towards east while the sound of gunfight in the town of Chernyakhiv gradually died down.

 

The 121st Rifle Division reported:

 

The enemy made a massive strike during the night of 5/6th of December 1943 and broke through the defense of the 202nd Rifle Division on west of the municipal town of Chernyakhiv. At 1100 hours, an enemy force of thirty tanks and ten armored vehicles entered village of Fedorivka, about four kilometers north of the village of Styrty, while another force of fifty tanks and more than a regiment of motorized infantry moved from town of Divochki on Styrty. Thus, the 383rd and 544th Rifle Regiments were surrounding. The enemy’s main forces, overcoming the resistance of our artillery, by the end of the day [6th of December] reached the village of Horbuliv. [1]

 

Thanks to the breakthrough of the Kampfgruppe Peiper on the north, the 208.Infanterie-Division reported:

 

The enemy displayed strong escape attempts in the around the town of Chernyakhiv. At 1400 hours, our right-wing attack group from the town of Divochky penetrated in northwestern direction and cleared the northern part of the town, while our left group on Velyka Horbasha took house-to-house fight in the southern part of it and eventually in the town center. By 1530 hours the last resistance was wiped out in coordination with parts of the Leibstandarte, which was a battalion of the SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 1 reinforced by assault guns set out by Pekarshchyna via Mokrenshchyna to Chernyakhiv. The village of Mokrenschtschina was taken at 1045 hours. The forces of the Kavallerie-Regiment Süd afterwards joined the pursued on scattered enemy from the south-west of Chernyakhiv. [2]

 

Booty report was made on next morning [7th of December] in which the 208.Infanterie-Division claimed:

Captured one hundred and ninety-eight prisoners, one 7.62 cm field gun, one s.FH, six 7.62 cm Pak, two s.M.G., one le.M.G., one mortar, two anti-tank rifles, twenty-two submachine guns, seventy-one rifles, two field telephones, two signal pistols, one field kitchen, seventy-eight horses, sixty-five Panjefahrzeuge and thirty-five Panjewagen.

 

Destroyed four 7.62 cm Pak, fifteen field guns, one tank, one 7.5 cm self-propelled gun along with a large number of vehicles. [3]

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Map: The combat actions around of the town of Chernyakhiv during 6/7th of December 1943.

The Photo: The town square of Chernyakhiv. The city hall (white building) on the right-hand side located nearby the Slobidska St, the possible road taken by the battalion Kampfgruppe of the Leibstandarte to enter the town.

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Citation noted:

[1] TsAMO, Fund 1331, Inventory 1, Case 8, Sheet 296. Situation report № 0425 of 121 division for the period from 6 to 8.12.43.

[2] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frames 78-80. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K.4., announced at 1910 on 6.12.43.

[3] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame 88. Morgenmeldungen der Divisionen, recorded at 0350 on 7.12.43.

The credit of location identification goes to SGGEE Volhynian gazetteer © 2012 Dr. Frank Stewner.

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The advance continued. 7th of December 1943, Ukraine.

It was the night before the dawn of 7th of December 1943. Rudolf Lehmann stood with Sturmbannführer Peiper in a hut on the eastern edge of the village of Torchyn, observing the attack terrain. A clever driver had set up a Wehrmacht radio receiver in the hut. Out of it, the voice of Herbert Ernst Groh provided an accompaniment to the heavy Soviet artillery and mortar.

 

“Friends, life is worth living!” intoned Peiper. [1]

 

By dawn, the advance continued. The Soviet 322nd Rifle Division reported the enemy continued his advance along the main highway on the village of Zanky (Заньки) and by the morning took possession of Zanky and Teklyanivka (Теклянівка). [2] Under pressure, the 1085th Regiment of 322nd Rifle Division retreated from the village of Teklyanivka (Теклянівка) [3] to Hryshkivka (Гришківка), while the 1087th Regiment was smashed with great losses by fifty tanks from the west in the village of Potiivka (Потіївка). The attackers, moving along the highway T0607 nowadays, reached the village of Oblitky (Облітки) while the remains of the 1087th Regiment trying to regroup at the village of Men’kivka (Меньківка). By 1100 hours, the third regiment of the 322nd Rifle Division, 1089th, was located at the town of Chaikivka (Чайківка), and the divisional command post was at the mill one kilometer east of Hryshkivka. [4]

 

The town of Chaikivka, which is claimed to be reached by the reconnaissance units of the Kampfgruppe Peiper at 1900 hours on 6th of December [5], was already under attack of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 2 (under Sturmbannführer Sandig), which had moved up in the night, by 1015 hours, but the first assault came under heavy defensive fire from the hills north of Torchyn. And the second assault reinforced by the Kampfgruppe Peiper, which was only able to resume its action after receiving resupplies at 1230 hours, also got stymied in the heavy anti-tank fire from the hills south of Chaikivka. [6][7]

 

The defender of the town – 1089th Regiment – claimed an enemy force up to fifteen tanks along with an infantry battalion repeatedly trying the attack the town of Chaikivka from the south but the regiment managed to hold its ground and knock out two enemy tanks. [8]

 

At 1400 hours, the 4th Battery of the 1336th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment surprisedly found enemy tanks and troopers burst into the village of Khodory (Ходори) and cut the road of Krasnobirka-Mircha. The Battery, ordered to retreat to the village of Vyshevychi (Вишевичі) on the left bank of Teterev along with the rest of three Batteries, had four guns and two Studebaker trucks. Due to the heavy load of trucks, one gun was left on the spot one kilometer away from the village of Khodory on the road to Mircha (Мірча), waiting to be picked up on the second ride, the enemy tanks, approaching, noticed the gun and opened fire on it. The gun fired thirty armor-piercing shells on the tanks, but an enemy tank ran on the gun and crushed it. Taking the advantage of darkness, the gun crews removed the still usable parts from the gun and delivered them to the trucks hiding in the forest west of village of Mircha. Eventually, the 1336th Regiment reported arriving Vyshevychi at 0600 hours on 8th of December. [9]

 

Also at 1400 hours, the II./2 was ordered to surround and attack the town of Chaikivka while the Kampfgruppe Peiper moved around the town and launched an attack to the northeast. At 1900 hours, the II./2 broke into the town. [10]

 

Later, since the enemy had bypassed the right flank of the Division, seizing the villages of Osychky (Осички) and Rusanivka (Русанівка) on its rear, and the connections with its left neighbor, 336th Rifle Division, had already lost since the morning, the main forces of the 322nd Rifle Division was ordered to further retreat to Mala Racha and Hlukhiv Pershyi. The 1087th Regiment also made a further retreat through Vorsivka to Fedorivka.

 

By the morning of 8th of December 1943, all units of 332nd Rifle Division claimed occupied new positions, [11] while the Kampfgruppe Peiper was already engaging strong Pak front located at Hill 179.5, four kilometers southeastern of Zabolot’ by 2115 hours of last night. [12] Considering he was outflanked from the northwestern section of Mala Racha and from the hills to the north, Peiper decided to set up an all-around defense for the night. At 2130 hours, the leading elements of Sturmbannführer Sandig caught up him while the fighting of Chaikivka had been officially drawn to an end… [13]

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Lehmann and Peiper’s observation post (blue circle). By the morning of 7th of December 1943, the Soviet 1087th Rifle Regiment was scattered and retreated to Men’kivka (at the top of the map). But the initial attack against Chaikivka was in vain (red circle).

By the evening of 7th of December 1943, the town of Chaikivka (red circle) was detoured and eventually taken. Kampfgruppe Peiper deeply penetrated to the rear area of the 322nd Rifle Division and approached Zabolot’. The Soviet 1336th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, meanwhile, was encountered by unexpected enemy tanks at the further north area (red gun).

 

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[1] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 351.

[2] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943.

[3] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 670. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[4] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[5] NARA T 314, Roll 1173, Frame 88. Morgenmeldung an Pz. A.O.K. 4. announced at 05:30 on 7th of December 1943.

[6] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 352.

[7] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame 113. Tagesmeldung an Pz.A.O.K. 4. announced at 19:00 on 7th of December 1943.

[8] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[9] TsAMO, Fund 14629, Inv 0214959c, Case 0004, Sheet 156-157. The hostilities report issued on 10th of December 1943.

[10] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 352.

[11] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sheet 671. The final combat report of 332nd Rifle Division from 6 to 11 December 1943

[12] NARA T-314, Roll-1173, Frame 118. Morgenmeldungen der Divisionen recorded at 03:45 on 8th of December 1943.

[13] Rudolf Lehmann (1990), The Leibstandarte III, page 352

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Addendum to the fight in 6th of December 1943. Ukraine.

Based on the report of Major Melnikov and Captain Goryachev of the 23rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Division. [1]

 

At 07:00, 6th of December 1943, the Soviet 1336th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment deployed four Batteries around Hill 192.9. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd on the southwest and the 4th on the west.

 

At 10:00, the enemy went on offensive with the support of about 80 tanks of various types, breaking through the defense lines in town of Bezhiv (Бежів), villages of Головине and Сліпчиці and began to push Soviet troops in two directions.

 

а/ Bezhiv (Бежів) – Korchivka (Корчівка) –  Горбулив (Горбулів).

b/ Slipchytsi (Сліпчиці) – Tortschin (Торчин) –  Pylypovychi (Пилиповичі) to the northeast.

 

At 13:00 the enemy tanks, identified as Kampfgruppe Peiper, firing at retreating Soviet infantry, were approaching to the position of the 3rd Battery. The 3rd Battery opened fire on tanks and set one tank on fire. The rest of tanks fired back and shattered one 37mm anti-aircraft gun along with two trucks, one Studebaker and one ZIS-5. Three gun crews were killed and one was wounded.

 

At 13:45, in view of the impending annihilation, the 3rd Battery was ordered to retreat to a reserve position. About 30 minutes later, the 4th Battery was also given the order to retreat due to the approaching enemy tanks and submachine gunners.

 

At this time, both of infantry and artillery of the 148th Rifle Division began to retreat disorderly, exposing the right flank of the 322nd Rifle Division. The commander of the 322nd Division ordered his detachment to shoot at the retreating groups, but the disorderly retreat of the 148th Division could not be stopped!

 

Soon the exit path to Tortschin (Торчин) for the 1st and 2nd Batteries was cut, and both Batteries thereafter was ordered to take positions on the left bank of the river (Bystriivka River) in the village of Pylypovychi (Пилиповичі) and cover the crossing, which was packed with retreating troops of the 322nd Division. While the 3rd and 4th Batteries were ordered to occupy the positions in farms southeast of the village of Tortschin (Торчин).

 

At 17:00, the 1336th Regiment received new order of taking positions in the district of the village of Kotivka (Котівка), where the regiment arrived at 02:00 in 7th of December 1943. In the fight of 6th December 1943, the regiment claimed shot down three Me-109 fighters and burned one enemy tank.

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The village where the 1336th ordered to took its cover position (green circle) and the new assembly point (red circle).

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[1] TsAMO, Fund 14629, Inv 0214959c, Case 0004, Sht 155-156.

Unleash hell, the main fight on 6 December 1943.

At 0400 hours on 6 December 1943, the Kampfgruppe Peiper broke through the front of the 30th Rifle Corps into the area of Styrty (Стирти) and Bezhiv (Бежів), northeastern of Tschernjachoff (Черняхів). [1]

The spearhead of the Kampfgruppe took Styrty (Стирти) at 10:00 and Korchivka (Корчівка) at 1100 hours. When Kaitanawka (Кайтанівка) had also changed hands at 1445 (1700 by Soviet sources) hours the German air reconnaissance claimed friendly troops were found in the southern part of Tortschin (Торчин). [2]

By 15:00, a German force up to 60 armored vehicles broke into the area 3km north of Slipchytsi (Сліпчиці), continuing on the path between Tortschin (Торчин) and the Kam’yanyi Brid (Кам’яний Брід) in front of the High 192.9 and Kashperivka (Кашперівка), cutting off the units of the 332nd Rifle Division from the rear. The fight at the High 192.9 lasted for 2 hours, in which 3 Germans tanks claimed to be destroyed but the 1/1085th Rifle Regiment was removed along with a Battery with 4 guns. [3]

The Panzergrenadiers then penetrated from northwest into the town of Tschernjachoff (Черняхів) where they made contact with the 208. Infanterie-Division from the south. The 141st, as well as parts of the 202nd and 121st Rifle Division, were allegedly wiped out in Tschernjachoff afterward. [4]

When the village of Horbuliv (Горбулів) was also lost at 1900 hours, the 322nd Rifle Division started to disengage with enemy and assemble in Tortschin (Торчин). Among its subordinates, the 1087th Regiment hereafter retreated to Моделів, the 1089th Regiment to Чайківка , and the 1085th Regiment to Теклянівка in order to set up new defense line by 0200 hours, 7th of December 1943. [5]

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[1] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sh 670

[2] NARA, T314, R1173, FRM78.

[3] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sh 670

[4] NARA, T314, R1173, FRM78.

[5] TsAMO, Fund 1635, Inv 1, Case 55, Sh 670

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At 04:00, 6 December 1943, the Kampfgruppe Peiper broke through the front of the 30th Rifle Corps into the area of Styrty (Стирти) and Bezhiv (Бежів), northeastern of Tschernjachoff (Черняхів).

The Kampfgruppe took Styrty (Стирти) at 10:00 and Korchivka (Корчівка) at 11:00. It didn’t make a further thrust eastward to Tchaikovka (Чайківка) until the noon of 7 December but turned to south. 
According to TsAMO, there was a unknown number of Soviet artillery deployed at Kam’yanyi Brid that could be part of reasons for this change of direction.

When Kaitanawka (Кайтанівка) was seized at 14:45 and the German air reconnaissance claimed friendly troops were found in the southern part of Tortschin (Торчин). But according to Soviet source, Kaitanawka was lost at 17:00.

The Leibstandarte, penetrating southward and eradicating enemy artillery deployment on its way, forced the 322nd Rifle Division to disengage with the enemy and assemble in Tortschin (Торчин) after the village of Horbuliv (Горбулів) was lost at 1900 hours.
The 208. Infanterie-Division, in the meantime, was attacking Chernyakhi from the south.
It was a possibility that the Leibstandarte did not have enough troops to block to retreat route of the enemy and as routine the troops had to forge hedgehog defense when the night falls.

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